MacColl began her career in the late 1970s UK punk rock scene, singing backing vocals for Drug Addix. Her UK hits included the 1981 single "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis", a cover of Billy Bragg's "A New England" in 1985, a duet with Shane MacGowan of The Pogues on "Fairytale of New York" in 1987, and a cover of The Kinks' song "Days" in 1989. She was probably most recognizable in the United States as the writer of "They Don't Know" a hit in 1979.
After a break from the music industry for much of the 1990s, several trips to Cuba and Brazil restored MacColl's creative muse, and the world music-inspired (particularly Cuban and other Latin American forms) Tropical Brainstorm, often described as her finest work, was released in 2000.
On 18 December 2000, while swimming in a restricted diving area with her family on a holiday in Cozumel, she was killed in a collision with a powerboat while managing to drag her son out of its path. The boat was owned by Mexican supermarket millionaire Guillermo González Nova (owner of Comercial Mexicana), who was on board with several members of his family. A boathand, José Cen Yam, claimed to have been driving the boat and was found guilty of culpable homicide and, under Mexican law, allowed to pay a fine of 1034 pesos (about USD 90) in lieu of a prison sentence of that many days. However, eyewitnesses contradict Cen Yam's claim to have been driving and also González Nova's claim that the boat was travelling at a speed of only one knot. MacColl's family are campaigning for a judicial review into the events surrounding her death, including an application to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The BBC has featured on several of its channels a documentary by Olivia Lichtenstein, entitled Who Killed Kirsty MacColl?
In 2001, a bench was placed by the southern entrance to London's Soho Square as a memorial to her, after a lyric from one of her most poignant songs: "One day I'll be waiting there/ No empty bench inSoho Square.
Keep Your Hands Off My Baby
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I let you share what's mine
But when you mess with the boy I love
It's time to draw the line
Keep your hands (keep your hands) off my bay-ee-a-by
I ain't gonna tell you but-a one more time
Oh, keep your hands (keep your hands) off my bay-ee-a-by
Girl, you get it through your head
I don't mind when you lend my clothes
My jewelry and such
But, honey, let's get something straight
There's one thing you don't touch
Keep your hands (keep your hands) off my baby
Girl, you get it through your head
That boy is mine
Keep your hands (keep your hands) off my bay-ee-a-by
I ain't gonna tell you but-a one more time
Oh, keep your hands (keep your hands) off my bay-ee-a-by
Girl, you get it through your head
That boy is mine
(Keep your hands)
Oh, keep your hands (off my) off my baby (bay-ee-a-by )
I ain't gonna tell you twice
(Keep your hands off my)
He's mine (bay-ee-a-by)
Yay, yay, yeah, he's mine
(Keep your hands off my)
You better watch yourself, now (bay-ee-a-by)
The lyrics of Kirsty MacColl's song Keep Your Hands Off My Baby are about a female narrator who warns her friend to keep her hands off the boy that she loves. While she is willing to share material possessions with her friend, the singer draws the line when it comes to her romantic partner. The singer asserts her ownership of her partner and warns her friend that he is off-limits. Through her lyrics, the singer emphasizes her possession of her partner and her unwillingness to share him with anyone else.
The lyrics of the song also suggest a sense of insecurity on the part of the singer, who feels the need to assert her claim on her partner. The repetition of the phrase "keep your hands off my baby" highlights her anxiety about losing her partner to someone else. The lyrics also suggest a sense of jealousy and possessiveness, as the singer warns her friend to watch herself.
Overall, the lyrics of Keep Your Hands Off My Baby convey a message of ownership, possession, and insecurity in a romantic relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
We've been friends for oh, so long
We have a long-standing friendship.
I let you share what's mine
I am open to sharing my personal belongings with you.
But when you mess with the boy I love
However, when you interfere with my love interest,
It's time to draw the line
there is a boundary that you do not want to cross.
Keep your hands (keep your hands) off my bay-ee-a-by
Do not touch my significant other.
I ain't gonna tell you but-a one more time
I will only warn you once.
Oh, keep your hands (keep your hands) off my bay-ee-a-by
Please listen and adhere to my warning.
Girl, you get it through your head
Understand the message I am conveying.
That boy is mine
My love interest is only for myself, and no one else.
I don't mind when you lend my clothes
I do not have an issue with you borrowing my clothes.
My jewelry and such
Or other similar personal belongs of mine.
But, honey, let's get something straight
However, let me be clear about something.
There's one thing you don't touch
You are not to touch my love interest, ever.
Keep your hands (keep your hands) off my baby
Do not touch my significant other.
Girl, you get it through your head
Understand my warning and respect my boundaries.
That boy is mine
My love interest is off-limits even to you, my friend.
Keep your hands (keep your hands) off my bay-ee-a-by
Do not touch my significant other.
I ain't gonna tell you but-a one more time
I will only warn you once.
Oh, keep your hands (keep your hands) off my bay-ee-a-by
Please take this warning seriously.
Girl, you get it through your head
Please do not dismiss or ignore what I am telling you.
That boy is mine
I am the only one with a romantic interest in him.
(Keep your hands)
Do not touch him.
Oh, keep your hands (off my) off my baby (bay-ee-a-by )
Please leave my significant other alone.
I ain't gonna tell you twice
I will not warn you again.
(Keep your hands off my)
Do not touch him.
He's mine (bay-ee-a-by)
My love interest belongs solely to me.
Yay, yay, yeah, he's mine
He is mine, without question.
(Keep your hands off my)
Do not touch him.
You better watch yourself, now (bay-ee-a-by)
Please keep your distance from my significant other.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING, GERRY GOFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
It's My Party
Had the pleasure of interviewing her twice, classy woman, gracious too. Showing her roots here, well done. Tragic, how she died in a boating accident.
Kandy Kabot
Murdered by some rich jerk who had his flunkee take the fall for him.Sad ,waste of a beautiful ,creative soul and a tragic lack of justice!
CB Fall
Excellent version.
Lisa W
I love Kirsty's vocals so so much -miss her lots
Shane Wright
Good version
Alejandro Buenahora
COVERS DE KIRSTY MAC COLL, , LITTLE EVA, THE BEATLES....PERO COMPUESTO POR GOFFIN-KING...I LIKE IT**
lee shafer
The Beatles should've recorded this!
lesley williamson
Can anyone remember the b side of this? I keep thinking there was a song "lelly i love you" but cant find it 😢
BillsOldiesUK
I Don't Ned You was the B side Lesley. :-)
https://youtu.be/XmCj7TUJR2I